Censorship: method of the lie

“The current eon” is called wicked (Gal.1:4), because “the father of the lie” (that is, the diabolos) is “the god of this eon” (2 Cor.4:4). The lie reigns. The primary method to achieve that, as Paul describes in Romans 1:18, is “to be retaining the truth in injustice.” That is what we call censorship. Wikipedia defines censorship as:

… the use of power by the state or another controlling authority (…) to suppress information or restrict expression.

It has been so throughout the ages: to suppress the truth. Books are burned, whistleblowers are imprisoned, people with inconvenient insights and opinions are silenced. Or, more ‘civilized’: rendered voiceless. Of course with the noble-sounding motive of protecting society from disinformation and fake news. Do you recognize the argument? Time and again, those in power—one way or another—seek to determine for ‘the people’ (Gr. laikos = the laymen) what truth is and to outlaw the lie.

totalitarian

From the moment censorship is employed as a means, power becomes totalitarian. People are no longer allowed to think freely and draw their own conclusions; thinking is done for them. And insofar as discussions still take place, they occur only within the boundaries permitted by the elite. In the current era of internet and social media, opinions that contradict the dominant narrative are cleverly filtered out and pushed to the margins by algorithms. Or outright forbidden, as has increasingly become the norm in recent years on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and others. We have seen and continue to see this especially in relation to topics such as corona, ‘climate change’, ‘inclusivity’, and now once again in current developments around ‘Ukraine’, etc. Propaganda is running at full speed, and dissenting voices are not welcome.

disinformation

For the record: disinformation is harmful. Being alert to fake news is of vital importance. It is part of a good upbringing to recognize false information and to be critical of the source of what is being said. Warning against disinformation is fine, but even better is to learn to think critically at all times.

censorship

But also consider this: never does the lie present itself so cunningly as when it claims to want to prohibit lies. No method more clearly typifies the presence of falsehood than a ban on disinformation (Eph. 4:14 “the methodology of the deception”). Truth does not need censorship: it exposes the lie. Truth never needs to be afraid. Not afraid of being contradicted or ridiculed. On the contrary: truth invites to be questioned and doubted. It has nothing to fear because the evidence brings the truth to light. And yes, the witness of the truth can be eliminated (John 18:37) – but the truth itself remains and does not change. The truth is as hard as a rock – that is why you can stand on it and build upon it!

The lie, on the other hand, is always afraid. Afraid of being exposed. That is why it resorts to control and censorship. But the truth makes free (John 8:32)!

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